Two men indicted on sex charges

Two men were indicted on sex charges Thursday in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court, while a third man — a former football coach — was sentenced to probation for having sexual contact with a 9-year-old girl.

Indicted on 12 counts of rape involving a girl under 16 years of age was Richard A. Benchea, 61, of Belvedere Avenue Southeast.

If convicted of any of the charges, he could get a life prison sentence.

Also indicted on two child-pornography counts was David A. Messer, 28, of Vienna Avenue in Niles, who is accused of taking sexually explicit photos with an 8-year-old girl.

Meanwhile, James M. Ingles Jr., 41, of Arlington Avenue in Niles, was sentenced to probation after pleading guilty to gross sexual imposition involving a 9-year-old girl. He is a former assistant coach for the Niles Little Red Dragons football program.

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